When most people think of a traditional facelift, they often picture procedures that lift and tighten sagging skin. While this remains a key part of facial rejuvenation, it only addresses one aspect of aging. As we age, we also lose volume in the face, especially in areas like the cheeks, temples, and around the eyes. That’s where fat grafting comes into play. This modern technique is now commonly combined with facelifts to create fuller, more youthful results.
What Is Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting, also known as fat transfer, involves harvesting fat from another area of the body such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks using gentle liposuction. The collected fat is then purified and carefully injected into areas of the face where volume has diminished. Common treatment areas include the cheeks, temples, under the eyes, smile lines, jawline, and chin.
By restoring lost volume, fat grafting enhances facial contours and smooths transitions between features, creating a naturally refreshed appearance.
Why Combine Fat Grafting with a Facelift?
A facelift works by repositioning and tightening the skin and underlying tissues. However, it does not restore the youthful fullness that gradually disappears with age. This is why fat grafting has become an essential complement to facelift surgery. When performed together, these procedures can deliver more comprehensive and harmonious results.
The benefits of combining fat grafting with a facelift include improved facial balance, enhanced skin quality, smoother contours, and a softer, more natural look overall. Patients often appear more vibrant without the telltale signs of surgery or fillers.
The Benefits of Using Your Own Fat
Using your body’s own fat for volume restoration offers several unique advantages. Since the material comes from your own body, there is no risk of allergic reaction or rejection. Fat grafting also tends to be long-lasting compared to synthetic fillers, which usually require maintenance every few months. Additionally, patients enjoy the added benefit of body contouring in the area where the fat is harvested.
What to Expect During Recovery
Recovery from a combined facelift and fat grafting procedure varies depending on the individual and the extent of treatment. Most patients can expect temporary swelling and bruising in both the face and the donor site. These effects typically improve within two weeks. The full benefits of fat grafting become more visible over the following months as the transferred fat cells stabilize and integrate with the surrounding tissues.
Is Fat Grafting Right for You?
Fat grafting is ideal for individuals experiencing noticeable volume loss in the face. It is especially suitable for those looking for a natural alternative to dermal fillers or for patients undergoing a facelift who want a more complete rejuvenation. The best candidates also have enough donor fat available for transfer.
A consultation with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon can help determine if this combination approach is the right choice for your aesthetic goals.
Conclusion
Fat grafting has elevated the modern facelift by addressing the key component of facial aging—volume loss. By using your body’s own fat to restore youthful contours, it creates natural and long-lasting results. If you are considering a facelift and want the most balanced, rejuvenated outcome possible, talk to your surgeon about incorporating fat grafting into your personalized treatment plan.
